The Wonderful World of Edibles

Gone are the days when smoking cannabis was the only way to enjoy it. Edibles now account for a significant portion of the cannabis market, and they appeal to consumers who may not have much experience with cannabis. In fact, Specialty Food Association named “cannabis cuisine” one of the top food trends of 2018, indicating widespread curiosity about, if not acceptance of, consumption of edibles. Here’s an introduction to edibles, including the answers to questions you may not even have thought to ask.

What is an edible? An edible is simply a cannabis-infused product meant to be ingested or taken orally. Maybe you or a friend have made pot brownies at home. Well, the edibles you’ll find in a dispensary are a whole different beast in several ways. First, edibles like those you’ll find at The Green Solution are made with highly concentrated hash oil and are exactingly infused with precise dosage, ensuring that you can control how much you consume. Second, today’s edibles come in a staggering array of flavors and preparations that put the old Duncan Hines-brownie-mix-with-some-flower-thrown-in to shame.

Varieties of edibles. We’ve already mentioned the vast variety of edibles available at The Green Solution; everything from tinctures to mints, suckers, and truffles and so much more are available for your enjoyment. But you should take more than just your taste buds into account when choosing an edible. The two primary considerations are how much to consume and how you prefer to consume: a gastrointestinal or a sublingual method. Did I just lose you? It’s not as scientific as it sounds. Let’s take the second consideration first, with a quick, painless (I promise) biology lesson.

Bioavailability and its role in edibles. Bioavailability is a pharmacological term that means the “degree and rate at which an administered drug is absorbed by the body’s circulatory system.” Thus, bioavailability determines how much THC (the psychoactive element in cannabis) is absorbed by the body, and how quickly. For comparison: when you inhale cannabis, the effect hits you almost instantly and the high is generally gone within an hour or two. Inhaled cannabis has a bioavailability of anywhere from two to 56 percent, meaning that between two and 56 percent of the product’s total cannabinoid content will get absorbed into the bloodstream (intravenously administered medicine has 100% bioavailability).Edibles, on the other hand, can take up to two hours to kick in, and the effect generally lasts much longer. But that depends largely on the edible’s consumption method.

Gastrointestinal consumption. These include things you eat or drink: sodas, teas, candies, cookies and the like. These edibles must be processed by the liver before they take effect, thus taking longer to feel. This method of consumption has an average bioavailability of about six percent.

Sublingual consumption. Unlike edibles that must be digested to take effect, tinctures enter the bloodstream via the highly permeable tissue under the tongue. When absorbed sublingually, cannabinoids have a bioavailability of 50 – 70 percent, meaning less product is needed to feel its effect. Also, the effect of sublingual administration should occur quickly, often in just a few minutes.

How much should I consume? There are a lot of factors that go into deciding how much THC you want to consume in an edible: your prior experience with cannabis as well as your weight and metabolism will determine how the edible affects you, so it’s best to start with a low dosage – 5 – 10 mg is a good place to begin, especially if you haven’t used cannabis often, or haven’t used it for a while. Remember, the effect might not kick in for up to two hours, so don’t assume it’s not working just because you don’t feel anything at first.

The Green Solution’s choices. It’s important to The Green Solution that every edible we sell is precisely dosed, down to the milligram. If you’re new to edibles and want to start with a microdose, you may like Mojito Mint Buttermelts from Sweet Grass – each yummy buttermelt contains just 2.5mg of THC, making them a great choice for new consumers. We also offer amazing tinctures, including one that’s high in CBD If you’re looking for a 10mg edible, we offer a wide variety of delicious gummies, chocolates, and truffles – truly something for every predilection.

Ready to give an edible a try? Go to The Green Solution and check out our inventory – you can even reserve what you’d like to purchase online and pick up your order at the Express window. Feel like you still need a little advice? We’ve got you covered. Come into any of our locations and ask a friendly Retail Associate for help choosing what’s right for you. When it comes to edibles, you can trust our experience.

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